Throttle-controlling means



THROTTLE CONTROLLING MEANS Filed Sept. 6, 1927 3 Shets-Sheet 1 n 8/ z 8 6 Z z 3 .Zd 2 4% m RN rw Gnome/11a y 1929. R. M. GUNDERSEN ETAL 1,712,918

THROTTLE CONTROLLING MEANS Filed Sept. 6, 1927 s Shets-Sheet 2 y 174, 1929- R. M. GUNDERSEN ET AL 1,712L9l8 THROTTLE CONTROLLING MEANS .Filed Sept. 6, 1927 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 /IIIIl/l/I/ll/ll/l/III f a AR Patented May 14, 1929.

UNITED stares 'lEttT OFFICE.

ROBERT M. GUN'DERSIJN, OF NEW BEDFUED, Ahl'ID MEICHAEL F. KRETBS, OF SOUTH DARTMOUTH, 'lldlr'aSSAGHUSETTS.

THROTTLE-CONTROLLING MEANS.

Application filed September G, 19?.

The invention relates to toot-operated means for controlling the throttles of auto mobiles, and it aims to provide a new and improved mechanism for this purpose having a it'oot-operated actuator which car ried by the brake pedal of the machine and moved to increase the feeding of gas, by lateral movement of the foot. Thus as the operators foot is always upon the brake m pedal, it is in readiness for instant use when ever necessary and consequently accidents which are now often unavoidable, may be readily prevented by the use of the invention.

Further objects of the invention are to provide a novel construction and arrangement of parts which will gradually decrease the supply of gas to the mot-or as the brake pedal is depressed but will increase the same upon release of said pedal, and to provide such a construction that any desired. amount of gas may readily be fed, regardless of the position of the foot pedal, thus making it possible to speed the motor with the foot brake applied, for starting the car on an upgrade on which it is held by the foot brake, and as the brake is gradually released and the clutch gradually thrown in, the feed ing of gas will be automatically increased, due to the arrangement just mentioned.

A still further object is to provide a mechanism of the class set forth which will not interfere with direct foot operation of the usual foot accelerator if desired, so that the latter may be used as customarily for open road running, whereas the improved mechanism may be employed in heavy trailic, necessitating stops without the delay of moving the foot from the accelerator to the brake pedal.

With the foregoing in View, the invention resides in the novel subject matter herein after described and claimed, the description being supplemented by the accompanying drawings.

Fig. 1 is an elevation partly in section showing a brake pedal, a foot accelerator, and the improved mechanism in its operative relation therewith.

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view on line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is substantially a horizontal section on line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. a is a fragmentary perspective view oi? parts directly associated with the foot plate of the brake pedal.

F lg. iis a horizontal sectional view on line l of F ig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 2 butillustinting a different relation of parts.

Fig. 6 is a detail sectional view partly in elevation, showing a variation in construction.

Fig.7 is a view similar to the upper portion of F ig. 1 but showing a still further form of construction.

Fig. 8 is a sectional view on the cone spondii'igly numbered line of Fig. 7.

Fig. 9 is a detail elevation looking in the direction of the arrow A of Fig. 7.

The forms of construction illustrated in Figs. 1 to 4 and that shown in Fig. 5, are identical with the exception that a sectional lever which we employ is at the right of the brake pedal B in the first form of construction and at the left of said pedal in 5.

Hence, a description of the various features of construction with this understanding in view, will suffice for Figs. 1 to 5.

At 10, we have disclosed two bearing lugs at thet'ront edge of the foot plate P of the brake pedal B. A short rod 11 disposed horizontally and extending transversely of the direction in which the pedal is movable, is supported by these bearing lugs 10, for both sliding, and turning movement, said rod being provided with a lug 12 to be engaged. by an edge of a shoe sole for the puroose of laterally moving said lug to in turn slide the rod 11 to effect feeding of gas,by producing depression of the usual accelerator A, and when pressure is relieved from the lug 12, the usual throttle-closing spring will again restore it to normal position, cutting down the supply of gas to the motor. The accelerator A is readily accessible to receive direct downward pressure of the foot whenever desired by the driver, and when he removes his foot from this accelerator and applies it to the foot plate P, the lug 12 may yield downwardly as shown in dotted lines in Figs. 1 and 4;, incident to the forward foot pressure thereon. For normally holding lug 12 in a position at which it protrudes from the foot plate P however, a suitable spring 13 is provided, one end of the spring being tion.

Laterally spaced from the brake pedal B and passing through a slot let in one of the floorboards F, is a lever 15. The lower end of this lever is received in a support or housing 16 secured to the lower side of the floor board F by bolts or the like 17, and said lever is fulcrumed in said housing at 18 upon an axis extending in the same direction as that in which the brake pedal B is movable. The upper end of lever 15 is provided with a bearing 19 through which the outer endof the rod 11 passes loosely, suitable connecting means 2021 being provided between said bearing and rod to effect rocking of the lever 15 about its fulcrum 18, when the rod is slid by means of the lug 12. The lower end of this lever 15, in the present showing, operatively connects with the accelerator A for depressing the latter when said lever is moved in the proper direction. To effect such depression, we prefer to employ the construction described below.

A rock shaft 22 passes across the housing 16 and protrudes beyond the same, said shaft being provided with a crank arm 23 having a bifurcated end 24 which straddles the accelerator A and engages a clamp, collar or the like 25 on said accelerator. lVithin the housing 16, shaft 22 is provided with a pinion 26 and this pinion meshes with an internal gear segment 26 which may be integral with or otherwise joined to the lower endlof the lever 15. Hence, when the lever is rocked outwardly away from the pedal B as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2, they segment 26 and the pinion 26 turn the rock shaft 22, causing downward swinging ofthe crank arm 23 to depress the accel erator A. If this accelerator is to be depressed by direct downward foot pressure thereon, its collar or the like merely moves awa-yfrom the arm 23, the lever 15 and associated parts then remaining stationary.

As it would be Virtually impossible to have the lever 15 swing about the same pivot as the brake pedalB upon operation of the lat- "ter, said lever must be mounted rather remote from said pivot of the brake pedal, we make novel provision whereby said lever will not interfere in any manner with movement of the pedal. To do this, we form the lever 15. of an upper section 15, an intermediate section v15 and a lower section 15. Sections 15 and 15 are slidably connected, the former being preferably received within the latter which is of tubular form. Section 15 is pivoted. to section 15 at 15 on an axis transverse to the direction in which the pedal B is movable. Upon depression of this pedalas shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1, not only does saidsection 15 slide into section 15", but both of these sections swing about the pivot 15. By preference, the upper end of section 15" is formed with slots 15 opening through its upper end and slidably receiving the ends of a pin 15 which passes through the section 15, possible expansion of the upper end of said section 15 due to said slots, being prevented by a nut 15.

The pivot 15 is not, in the preferred form of construction, truly at right anglcs to the direction or plane in which the brake pedal B, is movable. As shown in Fig. 1- however, this pivot is somewhat oblique to said direction orplane, so that the tclcscopic sections 1515 of the lever 15, must swing in a plane which diverges forwardly from the plane in which the brake pedal is operable. This is done to automatically decrease the supply of gas to the motor when the brake pedal is depressed and to automatically increase such supply when said pedal moves again upwardly or rcarwardly. Due to the oblique positioning of the pivot 15", the upper end of lever 15 tends to swing away from the brake pedal B and conse quently tends to move the lug 12 away from the users foot, when said bralre pedal is depressed. However, the usual tlirottle-closing spring (not shown) so acts upon the accelerator A and parts operatively connected therewith, as to hold said lug against the shoe until the throttle is entirely closed. Hence, the oblique pivot instead of actually effecting swinging of the lever 15 away from the brake pedal, merely relieves the pre--=surc on the lower lever section 15" and permits slight upward tilting of the segment 26 as the brake pedal 13 is depressed, thus automatically cutting down the feeding of gas to the motor upon such pedal depression. If the brake pedal be depressed further alter the accelerator A has returned to throttle closed position, then the lever 15 will out wardly swing away from the brake wdal l"), the lug 12 at that time moving away from the operators foot. Upon release of the pedal however with the foot still in position thereon, lug 12 again comes in contact with the shoe sole and as the parts return to normal position, lever 15 is rocked to increase the feeding of gas. If the car has been stopped on an upgrade and is being held by the brake while gradually letting the clutch in, the brake being gradually released during this operation, it will be observed that as the clutch gradually takes hold, the feeding of gas is gradually increased- Regardless of the position of the brake pedal, whether on grade or otherwise, it will of course be understood that any desired feeding of gas may be effected by ellccting movement of the lug 12 by means of the foot.

In Fig. 6, a lever 27 is shown which may be considered as of about the same construction as the lever 15 and operated either by the same means or by the means shown in Figs.

ltltl llli 7, 8 and 9. However, the lower end of this lcvoris provided with a late al arm 28 haw inn; a bii'urcated end 29 engaging rollers or other desired means 30 on the accelerai or it, thus dispensing; with the use of the segment err, pinion E26 and rock shat't 22.

ltn Figs. 7 and 8, a lever 31 is shown which tor the mostpart is a duplicate oi? the lever i5 shown in Figs. .1 to 1 and the lower end ot' this lever may be connected with the accelerator either by the means shown in bi l, 2 and 3 or by that nosed in Fig.1. 6. 'lhe upper end 0t lever St is pivoted at 32 in. a forked member 36 which underlies the pedal toot plate ll This :toot 'ilate i iormcd with. a slot hrough lVllitJl a stud. 39

on the. member 36 passes, and an actuator 4.0 is held upon the upper end of this stud, by a nut 41 which is preferably countersunk as. shown in Fig. 7. tiilidinp; oi? the actuator it) with the ioot laterally tilts the lever to operate the accelerator and upon depres sion of the brake pedal, the sections oi the lever 31 have the same movements as those oi lever 15.

It will. be seen from the foregoing that while all terms oi? the invention are rather simple and inexpensive, they will be efiicient, reliable and very desirable, particularly when driving in heavy trailic or wherever it may be necessary to make quick steps.

Details herein disclosed may be iollowed it' desired, but attention is again invited to the fact that within the scope oi the invention as claimed, variations may be made.

We claim i. In combination with an automobile brake pedal, a toot-operated actuator mounted on said pedal for movement transversely oi the direction in which the pedal is movable, a lever at one side oi. said pedal iulcrumed at its lower end independently oi said pedal for movementin the same direction as said actuator, said. lever being connected at its upper end with said actuator for operation thereby; said lever compri ing slidably connected sections which slide upon each other upon operation of the brake pedal, and pivotally connected sections whose pivot permits swinging oi the upper end oi? the lever with the brake pedal; and means for connecting; the lower end oi said lever with a throttle controlling member.

2. in combination with an automobile brake pedal, a toot-operated actuator mounted on said pedal for movement transversely oi the direction in which the pedal is movable, a lever at one side of said pedal iulcrumed at its lower end independently of said pedal for movement in the same direction as said actuator, said lever being connected at its upper end with said actuator for operation thereby; said lever compris inp; upper and intermediate telescoped sections and a lower section plvoted to said intermediate section on an axis t'ansverse to the direction. of movement oi the pedal; and means for connecting said lower section with a throttle controlling member.

3. it. structure as specified in claim 1; said actuator being mounted also for downward swinging ii pressed. with. the feet when pre ing the pedal, and yieldable means for in righting; said actuator when released the foot.

4:. in combination, abrahe pedal having bearings at one edge of its t'oot plate, a horizontal rod transverse to the direction oi movement of the pedal and both slidably and turnably received in said bearings, said rod having a lug to be engaged by an edge of a shoe sole to slide the rod, spring,- means for turning the rod in a direction to dispose said lug upwardly, a lever at one side of the pcdalhaving a hearing at its upper end loos ly receiving said rod, said rod and hearing being connected to eil'ect swinging oi the lever, and means for connecting said lever with a throttle controlling member.

5. in a throttle controlling means, a support having means whereby it may be stationarily mounted, a rock shaft carried by said support and having a crank arm for connection with a throttle-controlling member, pinion secured on said shaft, and a manually operated segment mounted on said support and meshing with said pinion.

G. in combination with a foot accelerator accessible to be directly depressed by foot, toot-actuated means for depressing said accelerator without pressing directly on the latter with the foot, and connecting means between said toot-actuated means and said accelerator permitting direct depression oi. the latter without operating said toot-actuated means.

7. in combination, a brake pedal, a foot accelerator spaced therefrom and accessible for direct depression by foot, foot-actuated means ifor depressin said accelerator with out direct downward pressure on the latter, said toot-actuated means having an actuator normally protruding above the foot plate of said pedal and movable laterally of the pedal to eilcct accelerator-depression, connecting means between said accelerator and said foot-actuated means, and means mountinp,- said actuator tor douurward yielding it forwardly pressed by foot incident to brake application.

8. .ln combination with a brake pedal, an accelerator operating means embodying a toot-actuated member carried by the pedal, means ifor automatically cutting down the feeding oi gas upon depression oi the pedal and automatically increasing the feeding oi vgas upon return of said pedal and foot so tuated means whereby the accelerator may be directly operated independently oi: the means carried by said brake pedal.

9. A'str'ucture as specified in claim 1; said pivot being oblique to the plane in which the brake pedal is movable, causing movement of the portion of the lever above the pivot in a plane which diverges forwardly from said plane of movement of the pedal,

for the purpose set forth. 10. A structure as specified in claim 2; the pivot of said intermediate section being oblique to the plane of movement of the brake pedal, causing swinging of said upper and intermediate sections of the lever in a plane which diverges forwardly from said plane of movement of the pedal, for the purpose set forth.

11. In a throttle-controlling means, a telescopic lever laterally spaced from the brake pedal of an automobile and means at the upper end of said lever to be engaged by the foot of the operator While resting on the brake pedal.

12. In combination with an automobile brake pedal and the conventional carburetor; means operatively connected with said pedal and carburetor for automatically cutting down the feeding of gas upon depression of the pedal and for automatically increasing the feeding of gas upon return of said pedal; said automatic means embodying a footactuated member carried by the pedal and movable under the influence of the drivers foot to control the feeding of gas independently of the movements of said pedal, said foot-actuated member being positioned to be held by the foot against movement with respect to the pedal incident to brake application and release.

In testimony whereof we have hereunto atlixed our signatures.

ROBERT M. GUNDERSEN. MICHAEL F. KREBS. 

